Cordless electric ignition tool

ABSTRACT

A cordless electric igniton tool having a handle portion comprising a housing containing a battery, a pair of terminals and a normally open switch in circuit with the battery and the terminals. A pair of elongated electrical conductors extend from the terminals, the free ends thereof being bent at right angles toward each other. An electrically conductive tube extends along and in electrical contact with a major part of the length of each conductor for stiffening the conductor and for increasing the electrical conductivity thereof. Electrical insulation is provided between the tubes to keep them apart and around the tubes for safety. A supporting member is mounted on the inturned ends of the conductors, and resistance heating wire is carried on the supporting member and connected to the conductors, the heating wire on closure of the switch having a temperature above 1400* F., whereby the tool is capable of igniting lamps, candles, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, gas stove burners and the like.

United States Patent 1191 Wahl et al.

1 51 Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 CORDLESS ELECTRIC IGNITION TOOL [75] Inventors: John F. Wahl; Roy E. Meyer. both of Sterling. 111.

[73] Assignee: Wall Clipper Corporation, Sterling.

[22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,871

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 319.380 6/1885 Arnould 317/95 X 640.771 l/l900 Johnson et al....... 219/233 UX 851,218 4/1907 Bessel 219/267 1.898.418 2/1933 Z\\'illing.... 219/268 2.092.218 9/1937 Kitsuda 219/262 X 2.973.422 2/1961 Smith 219/239 X 3.234.356 2/1966 Babb 219/233 X 3.419.704 12/1968 Hunt 219/240 X 3.437.880 4/1969 Profunser 317/95 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 733.191 7/1932 France 219/238 114.852 3/1942 Australia 219/268 552.594 4/1943 United Kingdom 219/268 825.301 12/1937 France l28/3()3.1-1

Primary E.\'umincrA. Bartis Attorney. Agent. or FirmEdward U. Dithmar [57] ABSTRACT A cordless electric igniton tool having a handle portion comprising a housing containing a battery. a pair of terminals and a normally open switch in circuit with the battery and the terminals. A pair of elongated electrical conductors extend from the terminals. the free ends thereof being bent at right angles toward each other. An electrically conductive tube extends along and in electrical contact with a major part of the length of each conductor for stiffening the conductor and for increasing the electrical conductivity thereof.

Electrical insulation is provided between the tubes to keep them apart and around the tubes for safety. A supporting member is mounted on the inturned ends of the conductors. and resistance heating wire is carried on the supporting member and connected to the conductors. the heating wire on closure of the switch having a temperature above 1400" F.. whereby the tool is capable of igniting lamps. candles. cigarettes. cigars. pipes. gas stove burners and the like.

4 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11,- 1975 II .II I

I II "I l CORDLESS ELECTRIC IGNITION T001 I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cordless electrieignitiqn tool, and more particularly toa portable tool for igniting lamps, candles, .cigarettes, cigars, pipes, gas stove burners and thelike.

The-handle portion of the invention which comprises a housing containing a battery, a pair of terminals-and a switch .in circuit with the battery and-terminals is sub-. stantiallyth'esame as that shown inco-pending application of William-M. Walton forSoldering Iron Tip AssemblyandCordless SolderingIron EmbodyingSame, Ser. No. 401,060, said co-pendin'gxapplication and the instant application having common ownership.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention contemplates a cordless electric ignition tool comprising a housing, abattery in the housing, a pair ofterminals insulated-from each other in the housing, anormally open switch in 'the' housing in circuit with the battery and terminals and a pair of elon-' gated electrical conductors connected to the terminals and extending therefrom away from the housing. The free ends of the conductors carry a heatable assembly, and the conductors themselves are capable of retaining shape at the temperature encountered during use.

The heatable assembly comprises a supporting member of heat resistant, electrically insulating material mounted on the free ends of the conductors. Resistance heating wire is carried by the supporting member and connected to the conductors, the heating wire on closure of the switch generating a temperature above 1400 F.

In more detailed aspect, the supporting member consists of ceramic material, and, in preferred form, is of tubular shape.

In the form of the invention shown, each of the elongated conductors is enclosed for the most part by a tube of electrically conducting material for purposes of stiffening and additional conductivity. Electrically insulating material is disposed between the tubes for the purpose of spacing, and around the tubes for purposes of safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a cordless electric ignition tool embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view, partly broken away, of the tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the ignition portion of the tool used in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the cordless electric ignition tool of the invention includes a handle portion generally designated 5 and an ignition portion generally 5 designated 6.

Handle portion 5 comprises a housing 7 of insulating material. As shown, housing 7 is split longitudinally in two parts 8 and 9, the junction line being shown at 10' in FIG. 1.

A battery 15, preferably a rechargeable battery is mountedrearwardly inhousing 7, suitable charging terminals (not show-n), if used,be-ing located at rear end,

16 of the housing. 1

A pair ofadjacent terminals 20 and 21 are mounted atthe forward end of housing 7, the terminals being electrically insulated-from each'other. Each .terminal has alongitudinal opening in its forward-end, anda transverse threaded opening adapted to receive a set screw 22 (FIG. 1). 1 W .1 I I A normally open switch generally designated 25 (FIG. 1) is, mounted within housing- 7 and actuated by an external button 26. Button 26 has a stem 27 bearing on resilient switch member 28,- and when the button is depressed; the contacton member 28 closes on fixed contact 29.: 1

Switch 25 is connected in circuit with battery 15 and terminals 20 and 21 by meansof conductors 30, 31 and switch member 28. v

In the formof the inventionshowng housing 7 carries a forwardlyfacing lamp 35 mounted in a socket 36, the socketbeing connected in the circuit by means of conductor 31 andcon'ductor 37. Thus, lam-p 35 is energized when switch 25 is closed.

Screw 39 (FIG. 1) is one of a plurality of fasteners holding the two parts 8 and 9 of housing 7 together.

Ignition portion 6 of the tool of the invention, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises a pair of elongated conductors 40 and 41, the conductors being formed of material such as steel, which is capable of retaining shape at the temperatures encountered during use. Conductors 40 and 41 have rear ends 42 and 43 respectively received within the logitudinal openings in terminals 20 and 21, the set screws 22in the terminals securing the conductor ends in place. The free ends of conductors 40 and 41 are bent toward each other as shown at 46 and 47 in FIG. 3.

A supporting member 50 of heat resistant, electrically insulating material is mounted at the free ends of conductors 40 and 41. Member 50 has openings at opposite ends, and the inwardly bent ends 46 and 47 of the conductors are received within these openings.

Supporting member 50 preferably is made of ceramic material, and, in the form of the invention shown, has tubular shape.

Resistance heating wire is mounted on supporting member 50, and, as shown, member 50 carries three turns of wire 55. Ends 56 and 57 of resistance heating wire 55 are connected respectively to conductors 40 and 41.

Still referring to FIG. 3, elongated tubes 60 and 61 of electrically conducting material such as brass respectively enclose major intermediate lengths of elongated conductors 40 and 41. Tubes 60 and 61 effectively stiffen the conductors and provide additional conductivity.

Electrically insulating material 65 is disposed between tubes 60 and 61 to keep the tubes apart, and additional insulating material 66 encloses material 65 and the tubes 60 and 61 for safety, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Insulating material 65 and 66 may be integral or separate, as desired.

Resistance heating wire 55 is selected to generate a temperature in excess of 1400 F., and this elevated temperature is developed almost immediately when switch 25 is closed. Comparatively little drain of the battery is experienced in an instance of use for most ig-. nitions, and virtually all heating takes place at the point of usefThus, the tool is highly efficient electrically, and

many ignitions can be made before battery needs to be recharged or replaced.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changesin detail may be made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A cordless electric ignition tool, comprising:

a housing;

a battery in said housing;

a pair of adjacent terminals electrically insulated from each other in said housing and electrically connected to said battery;

a normally open switch in said housing in circuit with said battery and said terminals;

a pair of elongated unitary electrical conductors electrically connected tosaid terminals and extending therefrom away from said housing, said conductors capable of retaining shape at high temperature;

a supporting member of heat resistant, electrically insulatingmaterial having spaced openings, the free ends of said conductors being received within said openings whereby the supporting member is supported at the free ends of the conductors;

resistance heating wire on said supporting member electrically connected to said conductors, said heating wire on closure of said switch heating to a temperature above 1400 degrees F.;

tubes of electrically conducting material on said elongated unitary electrical conductors extending the major part of the length of said conductors and in electrical contact therewith for stiffening said conductors and for additional conductivity; and

electrical insulating material between and enclosing said conductive tubes.

2. The ignition tool of claim I wherein said supporting member consists of ceramic material.

3. The ignition tool of claim 1 wherein the free ends of said conductors are bent toward each other.

4. The ignition tool ofvclaim 3 wherein said support ing member has tubular shape. 

1. A cordless electric ignition tool, comprising: a housing; a battery in said housing; a pair of adjacent terminals electrically insulated from each other in said housing and electrically connected to said battery; a normally open switch in said housing in circuit with said battery and said terminals; a pair of elongated unitary electrical conductors electrically connected to said terminals and extending therefrom away from said housing, said conductors capable of retaining shape at high temperature; a supporting member of heat resistant, electrically insulating material having spaced openings, the free ends of said conductors being received within said openings whereby the supporting member is supported at the free ends of the conductors; resistance heating wire on said supporting member electrically connected to said conductors, said heating wire on closure of said switch heating to a temperature above 1400 degrees F.; tubes of electrically conducting material on said elongated unitary electrical conductors extending the major part of the length of said conductors and in electrical contact therewith for stiffening said conductors and for additional conductivity; and electrical insulating material between and enclosing said conductive tubes.
 2. The ignition tool of claim 1 wherein said supporting member consists of ceramic material.
 3. The ignition tool of claim 1 wherein the free ends of said conductors are bent toward each other.
 4. The ignition tool of claim 3 wherein said supporting member has tubular shape. 